Scottish-born Biagi to start for Italy

Scottish-born lock George Biagi has been named in the Italy side that will close a disappointing Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. The return of Biagi in place of Dries van Schalkwyk is one of four changes from coach Conor O’Shea for an Italian side that has lost all four of their championship matches to date, conceding 172 points in the process.Biagi came off the bench in defeats by Ireland, England and France, but started in the opening 33-7 defeat at home to Wales. Flank Maxime Mbanda also returns to the team in place of Simone Favaro while Ornel Gega, back from injury, takes over hooker duties from Leonardo Ghiraldini.The final change to the starting XV sees Tommaso Benvenuti replace Michele Campagnaro at outside centre. Uncapped loose-forward Federico Ruzza has been named on the bench, along with scrumhalf Marcello Violi, who has yet to play in the Six Nations.Italy team: 15-Edoardo Padovani, 14-Angelo Esposito, 13-Tommaso Benvenuti, 12-Luke McLean, 11-Giovanbattista Venditti, 10-Carlo Canna, 9-Edoardo Gori, 8-Sergio Parisse, 7-Abraham Steyn, 6-Maxime Mbanda, 5-George Biagi, 4-Marco Fuser, 3-Lorenzo Cittadini, 2-Ornel Gega, 1-Andrea Lovotti.Replacements: 16-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 17-Sami Panico, 18-Dario Chistolini, 19-Dries van Schalkwyk, 20-Federico Ruzza, 21-Francesco Minto, 22-Marcello Violi, 23-Luca Sperandio England ready for ‘World Cup final’ against Ireland - JonesEngland coach Eddie Jones has urged his side to treat the Six Nations finale against Ireland like a Rugby World Cup final as the back-to-back champions target a second consecutive grand slam on Saturday.A victory in Dublin would also see England set a tier-one record of 19 consecutive wins and Jones believes the pressure on the weekend’s performance is ideal preparation for the 2019 global tournament in Japan.“For us everything’s about the World Cup,” the 57-year-old Australian said. “If you look at where we are now, we’ve been together approximately eight weeks. You’re together eight or nine weeks to get to a World Cup final. It’s the team that prepares with the mind-set that nothing’s going to stop them being at their best that wins the World Cup.”Jones said his squad discussed the possibility of extending the unbeaten run after defeating Italy 36-15 last month to notch up a 17th consecutive win. A 61-21 triumph over Scotland last Saturday matched New Zealand’s record for wins in a row. All Blacks Milner-Skudder out for six weeksAll Blacks utility back Nehe Milner-Skudder was told yesterday he will be out for at least six weeks with a foot injury, leaving his dream of facing the British and Irish Lions hanging by a thread. Milner-Skudder fell awkwardly in a tackle during Wellington Hurricanes’ Super Rugby loss to Waikato Chiefs on Friday and scans showed a break in his right foot. The Hurricanes said it was a small fracture that required rest, not surgery, but Milner-Skudder would be out for at least six weeks.The match was only Milner-Skudder’s second outing after a season-long layoff in 2016 due to shoulder surgery. He scored a hat-trick of tries in his comeback against the Melbourne Rebels.